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corydory's review against another edition
Slow, boring, unlikeable characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting
palmkd's review against another edition
3.0
A lot of this book feels like a fever dream, and I think that's intentional. There's a lot going on, but ultimately it didn't work so well for me despite really liking the world and most of the characters. I really wanted more from it. I think it showed a lot of potential, but ultimately didn't deliver and took a lot of pages to do so. It does end with a good hook and promise of more to come. My understanding is it's a duology so I will probably try to borrow book 2 at some point.
That being said... I have some extended thoughts about this one. I read it for a readalong which meant I spent some extra time reflecting on the book.
I'll start with what I thought worked.
The concept and characters were great and I really wanted to root for them in their own situations. I hated Astraea's cruel protector who we meet at the start and everything with him made me so uncomfortable I really struggled with the book. I think this might be a bit of a trigger for me, this level of controlling,. This mindset of: oh we know better than you, and know what's best for you and will just make decisions to keep you safe but... you don't get to know any truth. Okay personal rant aside, I think those were somewhat intended feelings/reactions, we're not supposed to like him, but it was a LOT of ick for me.
Nyte is a good complex character with lots of sides, and with Cassia it was so nice to see Astraea have an actual friend and some normalcy.
I liked the Liberatem and the world building. The vampires were intriguing with their different types and traits. The fae were a fun touch. The whole back story with the stars was interesting.
There are some lovely moments and quotes. Really a lot of good nuggets in here.
Unfortunately while solid characters and world building are to two must haves, there was a lot that really through me out of this book and lessened my enjoyment.
I think with some more editing and polishing this would have been such a strong story. If I'm not mistaken it was first self-published before getting picked up so I have to wonder why there wasn't more editing for the version I read, or what happened there. Wording of many sentences were clunky and awkward. I found the wrong word a couple times in a few spots. I know these things happen but it was at too high a rate.
The unreliable narrator is a trope that can be really hit or miss for me. I think it's part of why I struggled so much in the beginning of the story before her escape. Unfortunately that same feeling of dislike came back a few times, when things were especially confusing.
When books give you that fever dream/confusion/unreliable narrator bit, they're asking you to step out on a ledge with them. There needs to be some trust in something for me to feel secure with that and I didn't feel that with this story. I didn't feel invested or committed to go through this level of confusion, and the payoff unfortunately wasn't there in the end. I felt bad for Astraea but I cared a lot more for everyone else than her somehow.
All that being said, I do still think this is an OK read, thus the 3 star rating. I'm disappointed that it wasn't more because there was a lot of potential.
That's not to say this isn't a good story for someone else, but it was not the right read for me at this time, that's for sure.
That being said... I have some extended thoughts about this one. I read it for a readalong which meant I spent some extra time reflecting on the book.
I'll start with what I thought worked.
The concept and characters were great and I really wanted to root for them in their own situations. I hated Astraea's cruel protector who we meet at the start and everything with him made me so uncomfortable I really struggled with the book. I think this might be a bit of a trigger for me, this level of controlling,. This mindset of: oh we know better than you, and know what's best for you and will just make decisions to keep you safe but... you don't get to know any truth. Okay personal rant aside, I think those were somewhat intended feelings/reactions, we're not supposed to like him, but it was a LOT of ick for me.
Nyte is a good complex character with lots of sides, and with Cassia it was so nice to see Astraea have an actual friend and some normalcy.
I liked the Liberatem and the world building. The vampires were intriguing with their different types and traits. The fae were a fun touch. The whole back story with the stars was interesting.
There are some lovely moments and quotes. Really a lot of good nuggets in here.
Unfortunately while solid characters and world building are to two must haves, there was a lot that really through me out of this book and lessened my enjoyment.
I think with some more editing and polishing this would have been such a strong story. If I'm not mistaken it was first self-published before getting picked up so I have to wonder why there wasn't more editing for the version I read, or what happened there. Wording of many sentences were clunky and awkward. I found the wrong word a couple times in a few spots. I know these things happen but it was at too high a rate.
The unreliable narrator is a trope that can be really hit or miss for me. I think it's part of why I struggled so much in the beginning of the story before her escape. Unfortunately that same feeling of dislike came back a few times, when things were especially confusing.
When books give you that fever dream/confusion/unreliable narrator bit, they're asking you to step out on a ledge with them. There needs to be some trust in something for me to feel secure with that and I didn't feel that with this story. I didn't feel invested or committed to go through this level of confusion, and the payoff unfortunately wasn't there in the end. I felt bad for Astraea but I cared a lot more for everyone else than her somehow.
All that being said, I do still think this is an OK read, thus the 3 star rating. I'm disappointed that it wasn't more because there was a lot of potential.
That's not to say this isn't a good story for someone else, but it was not the right read for me at this time, that's for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Rape and Self harm
laurak483's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book had so much promise and on paper had all the ingredients for me to love it. But I was so close to DNFing, only finished it since we were reading it for my book club. The main character's complete lack of deductive reasoning, curiosity, or agency throughout the book was infuriating. By the end of the book, not only does she need all the OBVIOUS pieces of critical info spelled out to her, but she only completed one single trial of her own skill/competence and basically had someone else do the rest for her. I also felt like every 2-3 pages she did a complete 180 in both her feelings towards the mysterious love interest and whether she knew who she was or didn't know who she was. It felt like the author almost kept forgetting or couldn't make up her mind. Then when the love interest gives her more red flags than a Canadian gift shop and PLENTY of reasons for her to stick with hating him (or at least mistrusting him) she still continues to flip flop every chapter between hatred and mistrust or miplicit trust and he is the love of her life. It was exhausting. And considering how many of those red flags were also things he did to coerce, manipulate, control, and remove her agency, AND SHE STARTS THE BOOK AS A PRISONER WHO IS BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED AND DOESN'T SEE THIS AS A DEALBREAKER? Come on!!!!!
It also felt like if I had been watching this as a movie, it was missing frames and super jittery. It felt like the characters would be in one place and then suddenly another, or go from one physical position to another that was impossible unless I missed something. I doubled back and reread paragraphs SO MANY TIMES because I was questioning myself if I missed something? Like did we enter a new room and I missed it or did someone say something to pivot the conversation this way? Nope, just wasn't there. It was jarring writing and had me questioning my sanity at times. I would also deduct an entire star anyway for the main spicy scene of the book. Start spicy time WEARING CLOTHES IN A BATH and then COME OUT OF BATH ONTO BED MAKING THE SHEETS SOAKING WET and then SLEEPING IN THE SAME BED, NO CHANGING OF SHEETS???? Not sexy, cold, wet, slimy, gross.
It also felt like if I had been watching this as a movie, it was missing frames and super jittery. It felt like the characters would be in one place and then suddenly another, or go from one physical position to another that was impossible unless I missed something. I doubled back and reread paragraphs SO MANY TIMES because I was questioning myself if I missed something? Like did we enter a new room and I missed it or did someone say something to pivot the conversation this way? Nope, just wasn't there. It was jarring writing and had me questioning my sanity at times. I would also deduct an entire star anyway for the main spicy scene of the book. Start spicy time WEARING CLOTHES IN A BATH and then COME OUT OF BATH ONTO BED MAKING THE SHEETS SOAKING WET and then SLEEPING IN THE SAME BED, NO CHANGING OF SHEETS???? Not sexy, cold, wet, slimy, gross.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Rape
lizzye33's review against another edition
I found this book at my local little free library with no expectation for the story, but the appearance intrigued me, and I have not read a book of this genre in some time, so I thought, why not?
Before reading the book and adding it to my TBR, I hesitated because of the many vague and negative reviews that needed to be more encouraging. Also, this story has vampires, which I have had a bad run with lately in books. But aside from that, I wanted to give it a chance.
25% I am really glad Astrea has friends who are not only willing but more than capable of helping her if their motives are true. That being said, this book is very tense, and I don't love being constantly on edge or emotionally trampled. It's not ideal for escapism, but I do like the story's complexity, though I understand why many stopped reading, finding it confusing. I think it is fairly well written in getting into Astrea's perspective. Perhaps that is because of vaguely similar reliability on my part. That said, reviews saying it is a try-hard book with too many tropes are both true and false. It does feel like trying to put a little too much on one page without giving what we need at this point in the book, but the characters are not wanting too badly in that way yet. The premise is rather predictable; we have a clear idea of what she is, and Hecktors controls more than she realizes with her medicine and forcing her under even though they have not addressed it yet. But I'm still curious enough to see where this goes. (Nyte for the win; Hecktor, there are special places for you.)
Okay, I DNF'd!!!
I tried not to, but I could not continue!
I tried to connect with the characters and visualize the settings and their perspectives, but this story is vague in the places it needs detail, the characters lack substance, and there is very little actual chemistry.
The worst part is that I was bored. It felt like a chore, and there was no direct plot to follow. It also never really had too much clear plot or motivation aside from leaving Heckor in the first part and reeling from it. Of course, there is more after, but I could not bring myself to care, and I wanted to.
This book had potential, but it was so dark. For once, I pushed that aside to try to get into a story I wanted to like, but it was definitely not worth it!
It was a little confusing, and I did not route it to anyone. I tried to find some answers online to what was happening, and it turns out there is no real resolution!?
No one has many more answers than Astrea does by chapter 15, even in the end. I skimmed through the rest and felt disappointed in the time I spent trying to get out of my reading slump with a book that did not provide escapism but trigger warnings without anything a book should to make it worth it or able to overlook them.
The writing was also lacking the more the book continued.
Anyway, enough about my rant. I am glad some people enjoy it, but sadly, I am not among them.
Before reading the book and adding it to my TBR, I hesitated because of the many vague and negative reviews that needed to be more encouraging. Also, this story has vampires, which I have had a bad run with lately in books. But aside from that, I wanted to give it a chance.
25% I am really glad Astrea has friends who are not only willing but more than capable of helping her if their motives are true. That being said, this book is very tense, and I don't love being constantly on edge or emotionally trampled. It's not ideal for escapism, but I do like the story's complexity, though I understand why many stopped reading, finding it confusing. I think it is fairly well written in getting into Astrea's perspective. Perhaps that is because of vaguely similar reliability on my part. That said, reviews saying it is a try-hard book with too many tropes are both true and false. It does feel like trying to put a little too much on one page without giving what we need at this point in the book, but the characters are not wanting too badly in that way yet. The premise is rather predictable; we have a clear idea of what she is, and Hecktors controls more than she realizes with her medicine and forcing her under even though they have not addressed it yet. But I'm still curious enough to see where this goes. (Nyte for the win; Hecktor, there are special places for you.)
Okay, I DNF'd!!!
I tried not to, but I could not continue!
I tried to connect with the characters and visualize the settings and their perspectives, but this story is vague in the places it needs detail, the characters lack substance, and there is very little actual chemistry.
The worst part is that I was bored. It felt like a chore, and there was no direct plot to follow. It also never really had too much clear plot or motivation aside from leaving Heckor in the first part and reeling from it. Of course, there is more after, but I could not bring myself to care, and I wanted to.
This book had potential, but it was so dark. For once, I pushed that aside to try to get into a story I wanted to like, but it was definitely not worth it!
It was a little confusing, and I did not route it to anyone. I tried to find some answers online to what was happening, and it turns out there is no real resolution!?
No one has many more answers than Astrea does by chapter 15, even in the end. I skimmed through the rest and felt disappointed in the time I spent trying to get out of my reading slump with a book that did not provide escapism but trigger warnings without anything a book should to make it worth it or able to overlook them.
The writing was also lacking the more the book continued.
Anyway, enough about my rant. I am glad some people enjoy it, but sadly, I am not among them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Eating disorder, Rape, and Self harm
babwans's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Rape